First of all... I'd like to thank Ian and Kat for having me again on #AMACon2.

I know... I'm not as good and great as the others. But still...I'm willing to learn new things. To my prompter...Banks, thank you so much, bankingonkismet! Love you!

*Disclaimer: Ang kuwentong ito ay kathang isip lamang. Anumang pagkaka pareho ng mga pangyayari at pangalan sa totoong buhay ay hindi sinasadya ng mismong manunulat.

It is a beautiful morning at the beach while Richard and Maine are currently enjoying each other's company. Richard is hugging Maine---the love of his life, and will soon to be his wife in the coming months. He just proposed to her a few minutes ago. He can't wait for them to tie the knot and spend the rest of their lives together. The both of them feel so happy. They knew that it's the start of their journey to forever. They decided to take a walk and plays with the sand, and exchanging sweet words with one another.

"My labs, hindi ka pa ba mali late sa trabaho mo? Kanina pa tayo dito eh."

"Nope. Are you trying to push me away, Ms. Nicomaine Mendoza?"

"Hindi naman po, Vice Mayor Richard Faulkerson Jr. Kaso, inisip ko na baka marami kang trabaho ngayon sa munisipyo."

"Mas importante ka sa 'kin eh. That's why I decided to propose to you this morning because I want this to be intimate and simple. I can't wait to marry you, my love. I promise to love and take care of you forever."

"Pangako ko din na ikaw lang ang mamahalin ko habang buhay. Pero talaga ba na importante ako sa'yo? Sige nga, kiss mo nga ako."

He then kiss her on the forehead, then on her left and right cheek, and followed by a soft kiss on her lips. He suddenly kisses her on the neck but Maine stops him.

"Huy, ang landi mo Vice Mayor. Tama na nga 'yan. Baka makita pa tayo ng mga bodyguards mo."

"Hmph. Don't mind them, love. It's none of their business.", he says with a smirk.

"My labs, mabuti pa umalis na tayo. Malayo pa ang biyahe mo pauwi ng Sta. Rosa."

"Hmmm...gusto mo bang sumama na sa 'kin pauwi? Ako lang naman mag isa na nasa office ngayon?"

"Wag ka nga! Alam ko 'yang mga galawan mong ganyan, Vice Mayor. Ang harot mo, my labs. Tara na nga."

Nagtatawanan pa sila habang naglalakad nang biglang may nakita silang isang naka bonette na lalaki na may hawak na baril na papalapit sa kanila. Dahan dahan na inangat ng lalake ang hawak na baril. The gun that he was holding is pointing towards them...particulary to Richard. The gunman pulls the trigger and fires at him. Pero humarang si Maine sa harap ni Richard kaya siya ang nabaril ng lalake. Natamaan si Maine sa mismong puso niya. Agad siyang bumagsak pero nasalo siya ni Richard. Babarilin pa sana siya ng gunman pero dumating ang mga bodyguards niya at nabaril nila ito. Kasalukuyang yakap ni Richard ang ngayong duguan na si Maine. The gunman shot her on the right spot.

"My love, please don't close your eyes. Dadalhin kita sa hospital. Please, hold on."

"Wag na ma...ma...my labs. Hu...hu...huli na ang lahat. Wa...wa..walang tayo...", Maine says as she catches her breath.

"No! Hindi pwede. Please. You just can't leave me, my love. Please don't do this to me.", he says while sobbing so hard.

"Isa ka lang panaginip na gusto kong kalimutan. Wala...nang babaeng may pangalang...Nicomaine...sa buhay mo."

"No! You'll be safe. We will live together. Forever."

"Ka...limu...tan mo...na...ako. Paalam, mahal ko...",she said while closing her eyes.

"Maine! Maine! Maine! Nooooooo!!!!!!", he shouts with all his might.

******

Mayor Richard Faulkerson Jr. suddenly awakes from his bad dream. Nakatulog na pala siya sa mesa niya habang tinitingnan ang mga pictures ni Maine sa isang album. Saglit niyang nasapo ang noo niya. Mabuti nalang at panaginip lang ang lahat.

"It's been 3 years today since the last time that we saw each other, Maine.", he said while touching her pictures.

His bodyguard arrives and says that someone wants to see him.

"Mayor, nandito po 'yung Barangay Captain ng Aplaya."

"Sige, papasukin mo.", he says while keeping the album on a secret place.

Makalipas ang ilang saglit ay kausap na ni Richard ang Barangay Captain ng Aplaya. Kasalukuyan itong may pinapakiusap sa kanya.

"Mayor, kung puwede po sana na dagdagan ng mga police sa Barangay namin. Medyo talamak po kasi ngayon ang nakawan at saka kahapon lang po kasi binaril 'yung isa sa mga barangay kagawad ko."

"Ano? Kumusta ang kalagayan niya ngayon?"

"Sa kasamaang palad po Mayor...dead on arrival po siya pagdating ng ospital. Ang dami niya po kasing tama ng baril sa katawan at saka talaga pong napuruhan eh."

"Sige, Kapitan. I'll make sure that we will add police forces sa barangay niyo. Kumusta naman 'yung pamilya ng namatay?"

"Eh 'yun na nga po ang problema, Mayor. May apat na anak po na naiwan tapos 'yung asawa naman niya eh walang masyadong matinong hanapbuhay."

"Okay. Kindly assure them that we will do everything to help them. Maghahanap tayo ng mga NGO's na pwedeng tumulong sa kanila so that the children will still continue with their studies. Pakisabi nalang po sa asawa 'nung namatay na pumunta dito sa office, and I will ask the Human Resource Department of the Municipality if there is an available work for her."

"Naku, salamat po Mayor Faulkerson. Malaking tulong po ito sa amin at sa kanila po na nangangailangan."

"You're welcome po."

Nagpaalam na rin ang bisita ni Mayor Richard Faulkerson Jr. A few minutes later his secretary came inside his office.

"Claire, do I still have schedules this afternoon?", he asked his secretary.

"Ahm, bale meron po kayong meeting with the transport groups and after that you will be having a dinner meeting with some businessmen sa isang hotel."

"Hmmm...Claire, kindly re-schedule my meetings this afternoon until tonight. May pupuntahan ako."

"Saan po? Personal matters po ba? Gusto niyo ako nalang..."

"No. I have to do this myself. Pupunta ako ng Bulacan."

"Again? Pero, Mayor..."

"Claire, please clear my schedules this afternoon. Just do it, okay?"

"Yes, Mayor."

Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay inalalayan na si Mayor Richard Faulkerson Jr. ng mga bodyguards niya papunta sa isang kotse. Gustuhin man niyang umalis mag isa at mag drive din ng mag isa papunta ng Bulacan ay hindi niya magagawa. Mahigpit ang bilin sa kanya na dapat maghigpit siya ng seguridad. At isa pa, kasama sa protocol ng isang politician na kagaya niya na dapat may kasamang bodyguards kahit saan man siya pumunta. But as far as he can remember, this is not how things should be happening. Perhaps, some things never happen the same way twice. Richard wants to live the kind of life that he desires despite him-being the Mayor of Sta. Rosa, Laguna. But somehow, incidents happen in order for him to hold back. He must think first of the welfare of his loved ones and the people of Sta. Rosa. He dreams of living a peaceful town, and he's not alone of dreaming that way. His best friend Ferdinand Gatchalian dreamt the same way as Richard. Unti unti na sana nilang natutupad ang pangarap na 'yun ngunit may nangyaring hindi inaasahan.